But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31(NIV)

On Wings Of Eagles

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Business is Your Ministry

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as
working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will
receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are
serving.

The Bible is very clear that the purpose for our work
life is to reflect Christ in and through our lives. It is an attitude that says
our work is to have an overriding "ministry" objective to it. Our
work is our worship to God. These two words even originate from the same Hebrew
word, avodah.

Robert Laidlaw was born in Scotland in 1885 but grew up
in New Zealand. Born to Christian parents, he committed his life fully to the
Lord when he was 17. Laidlaw began working in a hardware merchant company as a
traveling sales representative when he was 19. Later he had the idea for a
mail-order catalogue business that sold everything imaginable including
underwear, groceries, cosmetics, and farm equipment, all at bargain-basement
prices. His concept proved successful and his business later merged with the
Farmer's Union Trading Company. He became general manager and held that
position for 50 years.

But this is not the most significant thing that can be
said about Robert Laidlaw. He understood that his work life was a tool to affect
others for Jesus Christ. He began giving ten percent of his income early in his
business life. Later, however, he entered this into his journal:
"September 1919, age twenty-five. I have decided to change my earlier
graduated scale, and start now giving half (fifty percent) of all my
earnings." This he continued for the next 60 years.

The result of that commitment was countless numbers
affected for Jesus Christ through the resources he gave to mission groups and
other worthy Christian causes. He was personally involved in ministry. He wrote
a small book that gave a thoughtful answer to basic questions about life and
faith. It was titled The Reason. Many hundreds of thousands came to faith in
Christ because of this 46-page booklet. He publicly spoke to many of his faith
in Christ and became very involved in the Soldier's and Airmen's Association
when World War II broke out. Robert Laidlaw understood what it meant to view
business with an overriding ministry objective.

Does the Lord have complete control of your life? If so,
you will be able to see your business life as an extension of His life in you.
Let the Lord live in and through your business life today.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would have the same view that
Robert had. Help us view how we can use our business as an extension of our
ministry. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.